For Molly Humphries and Gracie Minor, two Wofford first-year students from Gaffney, S.C., working with animals has become a top priority. The two have founded PAWS for a Cause, an animal-focused community service organization for students.

“During my first semester here at Wofford, I saw the need for a service club that devoted all its time and efforts into saving and improving the lives of animals in the Spartanburg area,” says Minor, an accounting and finance major. “Molly and I collaborated, and PAWS for a Cause was born.”

Since its inception in December, Humphries and Minor have chartered their organization on campus, gained additional student support and begun fundraising efforts.

“We have received so much support from the faculty, like our adviser, Dr. Dawn McQuiston, and from Dean of Students Roberta Bigger and Assistant Dean of Students Brian Lemere,” says Humphries, a history major.

The organization recently held a Lucky Dog Fundraiser, selling green paw prints for $1 to be displayed in Zach’s. All proceeds from the fundraiser support the Spartanburg Humane Society. In upcoming months, the organization will host a food drive, a water bottle drive and other fundraisers as well as information sessions to share their mission with the greater Wofford community.

“One of our main goals is to aid the Spartanburg Humane Society through volunteering and fundraising. The SHS operates solely on donations and volunteers so we require our members to work on site at least four hours a month,” says Minor. “However, we also want to educate the community about animal cruelty and help other animals that aren’t at the SHS.”

Members of PAWS for a Cause are currently going through training at the Humane Society in order to learn how to best serve the center. Volunteers are needed not only to take care of animals through feeding, walking and bathing, but also to help with landscaping work and painting murals on the walls in order to create a brighter atmosphere. Humphries and Minor are working alongside the organization’s members during this process.

“Selfishly, up until recently when our members went through training, I have avoided animal shelters because it hurts my heart to see homeless dogs,” says Minor. “However, I realized that I needed to volunteer at the Humane Society because simply walking those dogs and playing with them changes their lives – they realize that someone loves them.”

by Kelsey Aylor, Wofford Class of 2017